Self-care isn’t always straight forward, but it essential to our overall well-being.
Now more than ever, it is important to take care of ourselves. Living through a global pandemic is no walk in the park and it is perfectly understandable for many, if not all of us, to be having some trouble coping emotionally and mentally. Assessing and responding to the needs we identify is essential for our own well-being. To understand what your own needs are might be a journey of discovery, or it is something you already have a solid idea about. We each function differently, but we all need to take care of ourselves.
So what does self-care look like?
As we are all different, it can look a variety of ways. Self-care refers to things that you need to keep yourself going, I can be an activity such as taking a hot bath or an object such as buying your favorite type of ice cream. It can be a small moment of calm or a whole day devoted to you. Whatever brings you joy, strength, and rejuvenation is what you can consider your self-care.
Now, some of you might be wondering how you identify what your needs are and how well you have been providing them to yourself. This is where the self-care assessment comes in. This assessment is a short survey of types of self-care and how often you engage in them. In completing it, you will likely find certain things that appeal to you and some that do not; that will help you identify what your preferences are. Feel free to make a note of these things for yourself. In regards to the frequency, think about how often you do the actions, and if that has been working or you wish it were more. Consider all thoughts that pop into your mind as you complete this and make a note for yourself. Self-care is not something that can be completed all at once; it is building habits and rituals to maximize your ability to care for yourself.
Check out this assessment that I created to take a look at where you stand with your own self-care.
Alternatively or in addition, make a self-care collage.
Another way to identify your needs is to create a self-care collage. I find collage great for targeting thoughts that are difficult to express by drawing or sculpting. Collage provides inspiration through looking at images and can be much less intimidating than drawing or painting. It also allows for the artistic flexibility of including anything that can be glued down.
So to create a self-care collage, you will need the following materials:
Begin by choosing images, words, or items that speak to you. Think about self-care and what it means for you; if you are not sure what that is yet, then see what comes to mind as you flip through your various images.
Once you have gathered the pieces, arrange them onto a separate piece of paper, or onto each other. I frequently like to layer magazine images over themselves rather than onto fresh pieces of paper.
Once you finish, take five minutes to look at each component and how they interact with each other. What do you see? How do you feel looking at the collage? Does anything surprise you?
This will hopefully concretize self-care and might be able to assist you in identifying your own self-care practices. Whatever you create will be an engagement in self-care. It may not answer questions you have about yourself, but continuing to engage in artistic processes can teach you about yourself over time. Plus, being creative is an excellent self-care practice for many people.
What about maintaining self-care practices?
To efficiently manage self-care, building it into your routine and forming habits is key. To get there, some people like to utilize lists or journal trackers (for journaling ideas, see my Pinterest board here). Once you identify your practices and needs, continue to be cognizant and aware of yourself daily. Stay on top of your mental health by regularly engaging in self-care practices and also outside of your routine if you feel you need something in the moment. Taking care of yourself is imperative in order to do the things you need to do and to care for others.
